Wine processing and liquid processing apparatus and methods

ABSTRACT

A method of improving the quality of wine during the production, fermentation and/or aging process comprising the steps of providing sound energy source(s) capable of generating sound energy over a plurality of frequency ranges, coupling the sound energy source(s) to the wine, determining a specific frequency range within the frequency ranges that resonate undesirable yeast, exposing the wine containing the undesirable yeast to sound energy sweeping through a bandwidth around the specific frequency to cause the yeast to act as a cavitation nucleus and implode. Further, using sound energy to degas oxygen, carbon dioxide and sulfur dioxide from the wine and to cause the sonochemical effect simulating aging. Additionally, for a sweeter wine, the sound energy is used to end the fermentation process by inactivating all the yeast.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

The subject application is a continuation-in-part of commonly owned andco-pending U.S. patent application Ser. No. 13/961,832 filed Aug. 7,2013, which is expressly incorporated herein by reference; which claimsthe benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No. 61/786827, entitled“Methods and Systems for Improved Cavitation Efficiency, OrganismDeactivation, and/or Causing a Target Object to be a CavitationNucleus”, and filed Mar. 15, 2013; which is hereby incorporated byreference in its entirety.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention relates to sonic, ultrasonic and megasonicsystems, and more particularly to systems and methods for generatingacoustic cavitation events in wine and other liquid media forapplications such as degasing, cleaning, sonochemistry, and inactivatingor destroying microorganisms, cells, and other organisms.

BACKGROUND ART

For years, energy in the form of sonic, ultrasonic and megasonic waveshas been transmitted into liquid media for purposes such as: to processthe liquid media, to inactivate organisms within the liquid media, toenhance chemical reactions (sonochemistry), to degas the liquid mediaand to clean objects within the liquid media. It is well known thatobjects may be efficiently cleaned or processed by immersion in a liquidand subsequent application of ultrasonic or megasonic energy to theliquid. It is also well known that liquids can be emulsified,homogenized, mixed and/or degased by application of ultrasonic ormegasonic energy to the liquid. Applications such as inactivation oforganisms, pasteurization, and sterilization are documented in theultrasonic literature.

For example, U.S. Pat. No. 7,726,325 and 8,087,418 are directed to ade-aeration device and ultrasonic cleaning device. International patentapplication no. WO2008/007631 is directed to a fine bubble generatingunit. U.S. Pat. App. No. 2010/0175791 is directed to a super-microbubble generation device. U.S. Pat. App. No. 2012/0282384 is directed toa fine bubble generating apparatus. The article entitled “Development ofFunctional Microbubbles for Ultrasound Therapy”, in the Proceedings ofthe 8th International Symposium on Cavitation, Aug. 13-16, 2012 isdirected to a method of creating micro bubbles using shear flow. Thearticle “Microbubble ultrasound contrast agents: a review”, by Stride,et. al., in Proc. Instn Mech. Engrs. Vol. 217, 2003, provides a reviewof ultrasound contrast agents. The journal article entitled “Potentialuses of ultrasound in the biological decontamination of water”, by Masonet al., from the Ultrasonics Sonochemistry (vol. 10 (2003) p. 319-323)discusses using ultrasound to kill bacteria and other microorganisms.U.S. Pat. No. 6,960,173 is directed to an ultrasound wound treatmentmethod and device using standing waves. The article entitled“Inactivation of microbes using ultrasound: a review”, by Piyasena, etal., and published in the International Journal of Food Microbiology(vol. 87 (2003) p. 207-216) discusses juice pasteurization withultrasound. In the article entitled “A review of research into the usesof low level ultrasound in cancer therapy”, by Yu, et. al., inUltrasonics Sonochemistry (vol. 11 (2004) p. 95-103), the use ofultrasound is discussed in the treatment of cancer. U.S. Pat. App. No.2012/0291765 is directed to an apparatus for heating fluids forpre-treating hydraulic fracturing water through passing the fluidthrough a device with a spinning disk. The discussion of the abovereferences is merely for reference and no assertion is made that theabove references are in the same field of the invention or are validprior art.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

With parenthetical reference to the corresponding parts, portions orsurfaces of the disclosed embodiment, merely for the purposes ofillustration and not by way of limitation, provided is a method ofcausing an object to act as a cavitation nucleus comprising the stepsof: providing a sweeping sound energy source capable of generating asound energy over a plurality of frequency ranges; providing a targetobject contained in a liquid; coupling the sound energy source to theliquid; and exposing the target object to sweeping sound energy at thespecific frequency range to cause the target object to act as acavitation nucleus, undergo transient cavitation and implode.

In another aspect, provided is a method of causing an object to act as acavitation nucleus comprising the steps of providing a target objectcontained in a liquid; designing and building a sweeping sound energysource with a specific frequency range that resonates the target object;coupling the sweeping sound energy source to the liquid; and exposingthe target object to sound energy at the specific frequency range tocause the target object to act as a cavitation nucleus and implode.

In another aspect, provided is a method of causing an object to act as acavitation nucleus comprising the steps of: providing a sweeping soundenergy source capable of generating a sound energy over a plurality offrequency ranges; providing a target object contained in a liquid;coupling the sound energy source to the liquid; determining a specificfrequency range within the frequency ranges that resonate the targetobject; and exposing the target object to sound energy at the specificfrequency range to cause the target object to act as a cavitationnucleus.

The step of determining a specific frequency range may comprise the stepof: sequentially exposing a sample of objects equivalent to the targetobject to different frequency ranges; measuring an effect of sampleobject resonance after each exposure at a given frequency range; and/oridentifying which frequency range has the highest measured effect ofresonance.

The measured effect of sample object resonance may comprise a resultingparticle count measurement.

The measured effect of target object resonance may have a cell cultureinactivation rate measurement.

The inactivation rate measurement may be an exponential ratemeasurement.

The sound energy source may have a plurality of sound energy producers.

Each sound energy producer may have a transducer capable of generating adifferent frequency range.

The sound energy source may have a sonic generator and a piezoelectrictransducer.

The step of exposing the target object to sound energy may haveproviding a second sound energy source.

The method may further have the step of causing the target object toimplode.

The cavitation nucleus may be a stably oscillating cavitation nucleus.

The target object may be an organism.

The target object may be a cancer cell.

The target object may be a bacterium.

The target object may be a virus.

The target object is a parasite.

The method may further have the step of providing a tubular vesselhaving an inlet and an outlet in which the sound energy source iscoupled to the vessel.

The plate may be arranged between the vessel and the transducer, and theplate may have a thickness that is approximately or substantially aninteger number of half-wavelengths of sound at a center frequency of thespecific frequency range.

The piezoelectric transducer may have a piezoelectric ceramic with athickness that is approximately or substantially an odd integer numberof half wavelengths of sound at the center frequency of the specificfrequency range.

The step of determining a specific frequency range may have the step ofconducting a cell culture on a set of controlled samples, and eachsample may be exposed to sound energy at different frequency ranges.

The step of determining a specific frequency range may have the step ofmeasuring a particle count on a set of controlled samples, and eachsample may be exposed to sound energy at a different frequency range.

The generator may be a sweeping frequency megasonic generator having acenter frequency in the range 350 kHz to 15 MHz and having a sweepfrequency bandwidth between 0.1 percent and 7 percent of the megasoniccenter frequency.

The transducer may be a piezoelectric megasonic transducer bonded to aplate coupled to the liquid, and the megasonic transducer may have acenter frequency in the range 350 kHz to 15 MHz and may have a thicknessof piezoelectric transducer material approximately or substantiallyequal to an odd integer number of half wavelengths of sound at thecenter frequency and/or a plate thickness approximately or substantiallyequal to an integer number of half wavelengths of the center frequency.

In another aspect, provided is a method of causing a cell to act as acavitation nucleus having the steps of: providing a target cellcontained in a liquid; designing and building a sound energy source witha specific frequency range that resonates said target object; exposingthe target cell in the liquid to sound energy at the specific frequencyrange to cause the target cell to act as a cavitation nucleus; wherebythe target cell is inactivated.

In another aspect, provided is a method of causing a cell to act as acavitation nucleus having the steps of: providing a target cellcontained in a liquid; designing and building a sound energy source witha specific frequency range that resonates said target object; exposingthe target cell in the liquid to sound energy at the specific frequencyrange to cause the target cell to act as a cavitation nucleus; wherebythe target cell undergoes transient cavitation and is imploded andinactivated.

In another aspect, provided is a method of causing a cell to act as acavitation nucleus having the steps of: providing a sound energy sourcecapable of generating a sound energy over a plurality of frequencyranges; providing multiple test sets of cells in a liquid; exposing eachtest set of cells to sound energy at a different frequency range;determining an inactivation efficiency for each test set; determining anoptimal frequency range out of the frequency ranges which has thehighest inactivation efficiency; providing a target cell contained in aliquid; exposing the target cell in the liquid to sound energy at theoptimal frequency range to cause the target cell to act as a cavitationnucleus; whereby the target cell is inactivated.

In another aspect, provided is a method of causing a cell to act as acavitation nucleus having the steps of: providing a sound energy sourcecapable of generating a sound energy over a plurality of frequencyranges; providing multiple test sets of cells in a liquid; exposing eachtest set of cells to sound energy at a different frequency range;determining an inactivation efficiency for each test set; determining anoptimal frequency range out of the frequency ranges which has thehighest inactivation efficiency; providing a target cell contained in aliquid; exposing the target cell in the liquid to sound energy at theoptimal frequency range to cause the target cell to act as a cavitationnucleus; whereby the target cell undergoes transient cavitation and isimploded and is inactivated.

The inactivation efficiency may include a measure of an exponential rateof decrease in the number of active cells remaining.

In another aspect, provided is an apparatus for destroying cancer cellsin blood having: a first catheter for receiving a blood flow from abody; a blood pump; a vessel through which the blood flow passes andhaving a sound energy source, the sound energy source configured andarranged to generate sound energy having a frequency range that causesthe cancer cells to become cavitation nuclei; and a second catheter forreturning the blood flow to the body.

The vessel may have a megasonic transducer coupled to a megasonicgenerator.

The frequency range may be selected to discourage non-cancerous cellsfrom becoming cavitation nuclei.

In another aspect, provided is an apparatus for treating a liquid forsonic applications having: a vessel for holding a portion of the liquidhaving a sound energy source configured and arranged to cause a gas inthe liquid to form into bubbles; a cutting system for cutting thebubbles having: a cutting element configured and arranged for relativemotion to a portion of the liquid, in which the apparatus is configuredand arranged to cause the bubbles to be cut into a size for improvedcavitation efficiency in the liquid.

The vessel further may have a liquid inlet, and/or a liquid outlet.

The vessel further may have a gas outlet.

The sound energy source may be immersed within the vessel or bonded to awall of the vessel.

The sonic generator may have a sonic frequency between 18 kHz and 350kHz.

The sonic generator may have a sonic frequency between 350 kHz and 15MHz.

The sonic generator may have a variable frequency configured andarranged to sweep through a specified frequency range.

The sound energy source may have a piezoelectric transducer.

The cutting element may be a blade, wire, or string.

The cutting element may be stationary and a portion of the fluid may bepassed by the cutting element.

The cutting system may have a rotating shaft holding the cutting elementand a rotary motor may be configured and arranged to drive the shaftrelative to the vessel.

The blade system is configured and arranged to cut the bubble size to asize which does not cause or promote conversion of sonic energy from thesound energy source directly into heat.

The apparatus may further comprising a second vessel coupled to thefirst vessel.

The sound energy source and the blade cutting system may be arranged atthe first vessel, and/or the second vessel may have a sonic processingsystem.

The apparatus may further comprise a third vessel arranged between thefirst vessel and the second vessel, and for holding fluid processed bythe first vessel before being passed into the second vessel.

The apparatus may further have a recirculation path between the liquidoutlet and liquid inlet.

The apparatus may further have one or more transducers.

The liquid may have a body fluid, a hydraulic fracturing fluid, and/or afood.

The body fluid may be blood or interstitial fluid.

The food may be a fruit juice.

The apparatus may be configured for continuous operation.

The apparatus may be configured for batch processing.

In another aspect, provided is a method of conditioning a liquid forsonic applications having the steps of: providing a liquid with a gascontent; providing a sound energy source; providing a cutting system;coupling the sound energy source to the liquid to cause bubbles to form;and cutting a portion of the bubbles with the cutting system to causethe bubbles to have a different bubble population size profile.

The cutting system may have a cutting element, the cutting elementhaving a blade, wire, or string.

The cutting system may have a rotary motor configured and arranged torotate the cutting element relative to the liquid.

The sound energy source may be a piezoelectric transducer.

The sound energy source may be operated at a frequency in the range of18 kHz to 350 kHz.

The sound energy source may be operated at a frequency in the range of350 kHz to 15 MHz.

The sound energy source may be operated at a frequency selected to causea target object of a given diameter to act as a cavitation nucleus.

The method may further have the step of providing a vessel with a liquidinlet and a liquid outlet.

The method may further have the step of providing fluid from the liquidoutlet to a sonic apparatus.

The method may further have the step of returning fluid from the sonicapparatus back to the vessel.

The method may operate with a continuous flow.

The method may further have the step of providing a vessel for holdingthe liquid, and/or the sound energy source may be coupled to the liquidand/or the cutting system may be arranged within the vessel.

The sound energy source may have a sweeping frequency which varies in apredetermined frequency range.

The method may further have the step of providing a target object.

The method may further have the step of physically breaking, shattering,disrupting, inactivating, or destroying the target object.

The liquid may be a body fluid.

The body fluid may be blood, or interstitial fluid.

The liquid may be a food.

The liquid may be or include a fruit juice.

The liquid may be a hydraulic fracturing fluid.

In another aspect, provided is a method of causing a target object toact as a cavitation nucleus having the steps of: providing a soundenergy source; providing a fluid containing the target object; couplingthe sound energy source to the fluid; the sound energy source beingwithin a specified frequency range correlated to the target; whereby thetarget object may be caused to act as a cavitation nucleus.

The target object may be caused to implode.

The cavitation nucleus stably oscillates.

The target object may be an organism.

The target object may be a cancer cell.

The target object may be a bacteria.

The target object may be a virus.

The target object may be a parasite.

The target object may be a yeast cell.

The sound energy source may have a sonic generator or a transducer.

The transducer may be a piezoelectric transducer.

The method may further have the step of providing a tubular vesselhaving an inlet and an outlet.

A plate may be arranged between the vessel and the transducer, the platehaving a thickness that may be approximately or substantially an integernumber of half-wavelengths of sound at the specified frequency.

The piezoelectric transducer may have a piezoelectric ceramic with athickness that may be approximately or substantially an odd integer ofhalf wavelengths of sound at the specified frequency.

The tubular vessel may have baffles whereby a fluid path length betweenthe inlet and the outlet may be increased by the baffles.

The tubular vessel may have gas escape tubing for gas released from theliquid.

The method may further include the step of determining the specifiedfrequency range correlated to the target.

The step of determining the specified frequency range may include thestep of conducting a cell culture on a set of controlled samples of thetarget exposed to sonic energy at a set of frequencies.

The step of determining the specified frequency range may include thestep of measuring a particle count on a set of controlled samples of thetarget exposed to sonic energy at a set of frequencies.

In another aspect, provided is an apparatus for destroying cancer cellshaving: a first catheter for receiving a blood flow from a body; a bloodpump; a vessel for holding a portion of the blood flow and having asound energy source, the sound energy source having a frequency rangefor causing a cancer cell to become a cavitation nuclei; and a secondcatheter for returning the blood flow to the body.

The vessel may have a sonic transducer coupled to a sonic generator.

The frequency range may have a center frequency of approximately orsubstantially 900 kHz.

The apparatus may be configured and arranged to expose the blood flow tothe sound energy source for a duration of approximately or substantially12 seconds.

The frequency range may be configured to discourage non-cancerous cellsfrom becoming cavitation nuclei.

In yet another aspect, the amplitude envelope of the sound energyproduced in each of the above described embodiments may be varied in amethod to encourage high energy density cavitation events to occur. Morespecifically, the amplitude of the sound energy produced may becharacterized by monotonically increasing amplitude prior to the onsetof cavitation. In particular, using a sonic generator which providesexponentially increasing amplitude is deemed to increase the chancesthat high energy density cavitation events will occur.

In yet another aspect, the chance of producing high energy events may befurther improved by providing a tank or chamber, which may be spherical,where the sonic energy is focused. Such a tank or chamber driven by asonic generator may also provide a synchronization signal to anadditional energy source, for example, an electric current, a neutronsource, or a laser or lasers which direct a burst of energy at acavitation implosion to increase the energy density within thecavitation event.

In yet another aspect, the apparatus may also provide tracking of athree dimensional location and time of a cavitation event in order toallow precise application of additional energy for increasing the energydensity of the cavitation event.

In yet another aspect, these improvements can be tuned to produce asingle high energy cavitation event in a known location and at a knowntime or alternatively, the system can be slightly detuned (defocused,for example with either a slight change in frequency or a slight changein the diameter of the chamber) to produce a cloud of multiple highenergy cavitation events.

In another aspect, a method to improve the inactivation rate oforganisms or cells in a liquid medium comprises the steps of: providinga liquid medium containing organisms or cells, shifting the naturalbubble population sizes in said liquid medium to a smaller size bubblepopulation, and coupling a sweeping ultrasound drive signal with anintensity level above the threshold of cavitation to said liquid medium,whereby the cavitation density in said liquid medium is increased abovelevels possible with said natural bubble population sizes resulting inan increase of the number of transient cavitation implosions which causean increase in the inactivation rate of organisms or cells.

In another aspect, a method to improve the inactivation rate oforganisms or cells in a liquid medium comprises the steps of: providinga liquid medium containing organisms or cells, shifting the naturalbubble population sizes in said liquid medium to a smaller size bubblepopulation, coupling a sweeping ultrasound drive signal with anintensity level above the threshold of cavitation to said liquid medium,and exposing the liquid medium to UV light, whereby the cavitationdensity in said liquid medium is increased above levels possible withsaid natural bubble population sizes resulting in an increase of thenumber of transient cavitation implosions which along with thesynergistic effect of the UV light causes an increase in theinactivation rate of organisms or cells.

In another aspect, a method to improve the inactivation rate oforganisms or cells in a liquid medium comprises the steps of: providinga liquid medium containing organisms or cells, shifting the naturalbubble population sizes in said liquid medium to a smaller size bubblepopulation, coupling a sweeping ultrasound drive signal with anintensity level above the threshold of cavitation to said liquid medium,and adding a microbiologically active chemical, such as glutaraldehydeor IPA, whereby the cavitation density in said liquid medium isincreased above levels possible with said natural bubble populationsizes resulting in an increase of the number of transient cavitationimplosions which along with the synergistic effect of themicrobiologically active chemical causes an increase in the inactivationrate of organisms or cells.

In another aspect, a method to improve the inactivation rate oforganisms or cells in a liquid medium comprises the steps of: providinga liquid medium containing organisms or cells, shifting the naturalbubble population sizes in said liquid medium to a smaller size bubblepopulation, coupling a sweeping ultrasound drive signal with anintensity level above the threshold of cavitation to said liquid medium,and passing an electric current through the liquid medium, whereby thecavitation density in said liquid medium is increased above levelspossible with said natural bubble population sizes resulting in anincrease of the number of transient cavitation implosions which alongwith the synergistic effect of the electric current causes an increasein the inactivation rate of organisms or cells.

In another aspect, a method to improve the inactivation rate oforganisms or cells in a liquid medium comprises the steps of: providinga liquid medium containing organisms or cells, shifting the naturalbubble population sizes in said liquid medium to a smaller size bubblepopulation, and coupling a sweeping ultrasonic drive signal with acenter frequency in the range 18 kHz to 349 kHz and a bandwidth between3 percent and 20 percent of the ultrasonic center frequency and with anintensity level above the threshold of cavitation to said liquid medium,whereby the cavitation density in said liquid medium is increased abovelevels possible with said natural bubble population sizes resulting inan increase of the number of transient cavitation implosions which causean increase in the inactivation rate of organisms or cells.

In another aspect, concentrated fruit juice preserved with sulfurdioxide is degased with ultrasound.

In another aspect, a method to improve the quality of wine during thefermentation process of turning grape juice into wine comprises thesteps of: (a) at the beginning of the fermentation process, applying aburst of sweeping megasonics to the grape juice to implode undesirableyeast, (b) coupling sweeping ultrasonics, at a different frequency fromsaid sweeping megasonics, to the grape juice to degas sulfur dioxide toan acceptable level, (c) periodically during the fermentation process,applying a burst of sweeping megasonics is applied to the wine toimplode any undesirable yeast that began to multiply, and at thetermination of the fermentation process said sweeping megasonics and/orsaid sweeping ultrasonics is coupled to the wine sequentially orconcurrently to inactivate remaining yeast that are viable, to degascarbon dioxide, oxygen and sulfur dioxide, and to produce thesonochemical effect of aging, whereby the resulting wine has improvedflavor with less headache producing chemicals.

In another aspect, the advantages of degasing sulfur dioxide areenhanced by the ability to control the ending concentration to a desiredlevel.

In yet another aspect, the sweeping megasonics has a center frequency inthe range 350 kHz to 15 MHz and a bandwidth that is between 0.1 percentand 7 percent of the megasonic center frequency.

In another aspect, the sweeping ultrasonics has a center frequency inthe range 18 kHz to 349 kHz and a bandwidth that is between 3 percentand 20 percent of the ultrasonic center frequency.

In yet another aspect, a method to improve the quality of wine duringthe fermentation process comprises the steps of: shifting the naturalbubble size population of the fermented wine to a smaller bubblepopulation size, coupling sweeping ultrasonics to the wine having saidsmaller bubble population size, and applying said sweeping ultrasonicsto the wine to increase the cavitation implosion density within the wineto inactivate yeast that are viable by disrupting their cell walls withshock waves from said implosions, whereby the fermentation process isstopped resulting in a sweeter wine that has improved flavor due to thesonochemical effect of the applied sweeping ultrasonics.

In another aspect, where the application of sweeping ultrasonics is fora time period between 4 minutes and 20 minutes.

In another aspect, the sweeping ultrasonics has a center frequency inthe range 18 kHz to 349 kHz and a bandwidth that is between 3 percentand 20 percent of the ultrasonic center frequency.

In another aspect, a method to improve the quality of wine during thefermentation process of turning grape juice into wine comprises thesteps of: at the beginning of the fermentation process, applying a burstof sweeping megasonics to the grape juice to implode undesirable yeast,periodically during the fermentation process, applying a burst ofsweeping megasonics to the wine to implode any undesirable yeast thatbegan to multiply, and at the termination of the fermentation processcoupling said sweeping megasonics to the wine to inactivate remainingyeast that are viable, to degas carbon dioxide, oxygen and sulfurdioxide, and to produce the sonochemical effect of aging, whereby theresulting wine has improved flavor with less headache producingchemicals.

In another aspect, the sweeping megasonics has a center frequency in therange 350 kHz to 15 MHz and a bandwidth that is between 0.1 percent and7 percent of the megasonic center frequency.

In another aspect, the requirement of transient cavitation at megasonicfrequencies to target and implode specific cells or organisms isachieved by sweeping the megasonic transducers through a bandwidtharound the resonant frequency of the megasonic transducers. This isdifferent than the common practice in the megasonic industry of drivingmegasonic transducers at their anti-resonant frequency, or sweepingaround the anti-resonant frequency. It has been found by the patenteethat sweeping around the true mechanical resonance of the megasonictransducer produces the onset of transient cavitation and implosion. Theonset of the filling of the liquid media with transient cavitation andimplosion when sweeping around the anti-resonant frequency of megasonictransducers has never been observed. This sweeping around the resonantmegasonic frequency is a unique advantage for targeting specific cells,organisms or objects with transient cavitation and implosion as taughtwithin this application. It should be noted that sweeping is a mandatoryrequirement to fill a liquid media with transient cavitation andimplosion. The commercially available single frequency megasonics willnot fill the liquid media with transient cavitation, whether it isoperated at its normal anti-resonant frequency or operated at the truemechanical resonant frequency, the onset of complete transientcavitation does not occur. This explains why prior art aimed attargeting cells has been unsuccessful; it does not teach sweepingmegasonics around the true mechanical resonant frequency, therefore,implosion of those cells does not occur and therefore complete and totaldestruction of the cells is impossible.

In another aspect, it has been found by the patentee that when megasonictransient cavitation and implosion is required at lower temperaturesthan is possible with sweeping around the megasonic resonant frequency,a so called “double boiler” apparatus can be used to transient cavitateat low temperature. A larger body of liquid media is transient cavitatedas described above, then a smaller volume of cold liquid containingtarget objects is placed in a beaker or similar container and its bottomplaced in the larger volume of transient cavitating liquid media. Thesmaller volume of cold liquid is then transient cavitated. This processcan be enhanced by making the bottom of the beaker or other containerhave a thickness that is an integer number of half wavelengths of themegasonic center frequency.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 shows a side section view of an apparatus of one embodiment forproducing conditioned liquid.

FIG. 2 is a bottom view of the apparatus in FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is a bottom partial section view of the apparatus in FIG. 1.

FIG. 4 is a partial perspective view of a portion of the cutting systemin FIG. 1.

FIG. 5 shows graphs that indicate the shift in bubble size populationwhen the apparatus of FIG. 1 is used to condition the liquid.

FIG. 6 shows an apparatus of a second embodiment where conditionedliquid is produced within the cleaning or processing vessel.

FIG. 7 shows an apparatus of a third embodiment containing arecirculation loop.

FIG. 8 shows an apparatus of the two vessel embodiment.

FIG. 9 shows a prior art apparatus for producing high cavitationdensity.

FIG. 10 shows a flow diagram of an apparatus of a continuous flowprocessing system embodiment.

FIG. 11 shows an apparatus used for targeting specific size organisms.

FIG. 12 shows a graph with a relationship of target size versus sonicfrequency for causing targets to act as cavitation nuclei.

FIG. 13 shows an apparatus for targeting cancer cells in blood.

FIG. 14 shows an apparatus for destroying cancer cells in an organ.

FIG. 15 shows a graph with a relationship of frequency D-value versusfrequency for target organisms.

FIG. 16 shows a graph with a relationship of log cycles of organismsdestroyed versus frequency.

FIG. 17 shows a graph with a relationship of particle count versusfrequency for targets.

FIG. 18 is a flow chart of an embodiment method.

FIG. 19 is a flow chart of another embodiment method.

FIG. 20 shows an example of a monotonically increasing sound energywaveform for producing high energy density cavitation at a known time.

FIG. 21 shows a cross-section of a spherical chamber where sound wavesare focused at its center to produce a high energy density event in aknown location.

FIG. 22 shows a cross-section of a fermentation tank with ultrasonic andmegasonic transducers mounted to the outside wall of the tank.

FIG. 23 shows a cross-section of a fermentation tank with arecirculation loop containing a pump and a flow through ultrasoundtransducer.

FIG. 24 shows a cross-section of a fermentation tank with ultrasonicand/or megasonic transducers mounted inside the tank.

FIG. 25 shows a cross-section of a fermentation tank and a second tankwith an ultrasonic or megasonic flow through transducer and pump toprocess wine as it is transferred from the fermentation tank to tanktwo.

FIG. 26 shows a cross-section of a fermentation tank with the apparatusof FIG. 1 installed.

FIG. 27 is a flow chart of an embodiment of one wine improvement method.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

At the outset, it should be clearly understood that like referencenumerals are intended to identify the same structural elements, portionsor surfaces consistently throughout the several drawing figures, as suchelements, portions or surfaces may be further described or explained bythe entire written specification, of which this detailed description isan integral part. Unless otherwise indicated, the drawings are intendedto be read (e.g., cross-hatching, arrangement of parts, proportion,degree, etc.) together with the specification, and are to be considereda portion of the entire written description. As used in the followingdescription, the terms “horizontal”, “vertical”, “left”, “right”, “up”and “down”, as well as adjectival and adverbial derivatives thereof(e.g., “horizontally”, “rightwardly”, “upwardly”, etc.), simply refer tothe orientation of the illustrated structure as the particular drawingfigure faces the reader. Similarly, the terms “inwardly” and “outwardly”generally refer to the orientation of a surface relative to its axis ofelongation, or axis of rotation, as appropriate.

Overview

Bubbles in sonically activated liquid are cut into smaller size bubblesby blades, wire, or string to increase the population of bubbles thatare the proper size to form a nucleus for cavitations in an ultrasonicor megasonic cleaning or processing apparatus. This results in improvedcavitation efficiency for processes such as cleaning, pasteurization andsonochemistry. Organisms, viruses, cells or other target objects insonically activated liquid are made the nuclei of cavitations bychoosing the proper range of frequencies for the sonic activation.

The disclosed embodiments provide a method and system of treating aliquid to cause the liquid to have a bubble population with bubble sizecharacteristics that yield improved cavitation efficiency. Morespecifically, some of the disclosed embodiments contain a sound energysource for causing dissolved gasses in a liquid to precipitate intobubbles, and a bubble cutting system for causing the bubbles to have adesired size. The disclosed embodiments also provide a method and systemfor delivering sound energy with a specifically selected frequencyprofile/range to cause target objects of a given size distribution toact as cavitation nuclei.

Generally, ultrasonic and megasonic systems may include transducersbuilt by bonding piezoelectric ceramics or Langevin assemblies toradiating membranes such as quartz, sapphire, stainless steel, titanium,tantalum, boron nitride, silicon carbide, silicon nitride, aluminum andceramics, and generators designed to stimulate the transducers at oraround a resonant or anti-resonant frequency. The transducers aremechanically coupled to a vessel containing a liquid to clean the objectof interest or to process the liquid. When the transducers arestimulated by the output signal from the generator to spatiallyoscillate, they transmit sound waves into the liquid. The interactionbetween the sound waves and liquid typically produces cavitation and thedesired cleaning, degasing, inactivation, destruction, chemical orprocessing effect.

Some applications, for example, the practical inactivation ofmicroorganisms for pasteurization, have required higher cavitationdensity than is economically available in state of the art ultrasonic ormegasonic systems. The disclosed embodiments provide the ability togenerate these required high cavitation densities economically byconverting a larger percentage of the available acoustic energy intocavitations. Also, for more common applications such as ultrasoniccleaning, the disclosed embodiments allow the cost of the requiredequipment to be reduced because the required number of cavitations toaccomplish the cleaning application is achieved with less equipment andless energy. More specifically, because of the increased efficienciesprovided by the disclosed embodiments, higher power ultrasonic andmegasonic systems can be replaced by smaller lower power ultrasonic ormegasonic systems.

Some applications, such as pasteurization, require inactivating ordestroying all types and sizes of organisms in the liquid. Prior artsystems may be available for such applications. However, otherapplications, such as destroying cancer cells, are best accomplished ifspecific cells (in this case the cancer cells) are destroyed whileleaving other cells of varying size or characteristics unharmed. Thedisclosed embodiments provide the ability to target cells and/ororganisms based upon their size and/or other characteristics, to act asthe site of cavitation implosions, while untargeted cells are unlikelyto act as the site of cavitation implosions and experience only the moremild effects of a sound wave with a small probability of damage fromnearby imploded targeted cells and/or organisms.

This also allows selective organisms, cells or microorganisms to bedestroyed while desirable organisms, cells or microorganisms are leftunharmed.

Definitions

As used herein, megasonics means sound energy with a fundamentalfrequency from about 350 kHz to about 15 MHz. As used herein,ultrasonics means sound energy with a fundamental frequency from about18 kHz to about 349 kHz. The terms sonic, sound waves or sound energy asused herein are defined to mean the complete range of sound waves,including audible, ultrasonic and megasonic frequencies, from about 0.2kHz to about 15 MHz. As used herein, ultrasound means both ultrasonicsand megasonics, with a fundamental frequency from about 18 kHz to about15 MHz. Although single frequencies are useful in these embodiments, forexample, 430 kHz single frequency megasonics, it should be understoodthat it is common and often an improvement to substitute a range ofsweeping frequencies around the single frequency in which case thesingle frequency is often referred to as the center frequency, althoughthe single frequency can be any frequency in the range, not necessarilythe center of the sweep range. For the example of 430 kHz megasonics,the range would typically be about two percent wide, for example 425.7kHz to 434.3 kHz. For ultrasonic frequencies, the range is typicallywider, for example, ten percent. All frequency ranges are dependent onthe transducer characteristics and can be less than two percent orgreater than ten percent. At a true single frequency, the range is zeropercent. Typically the maximum range is less than 20 percent. The sweepfunction is typically a triangle wave, but many other functions areknown, e.g., saw tooth, random frequencies, digital stair step or dualsweep functions. It is implied by any single frequency or frequencyrange stated in this application or claims that any of the known sweepfrequency functions over any sweep frequency range from zero to about 20percent are substitutes for the single frequency stated or frequencyrange stated. Conversely, any frequency range stated can have a zeropercent range making it the equivalent of a single frequency. Therefore,as used herein, single frequency and frequency range are defined to bethe same set of sonic frequency functions.

As used herein, the term “conditioned liquid” is defined to mean aliquid for which bubbles in the liquid have been cut into smallerbubbles.

As used herein, “temperature D-value” refers to decimal reduction timeand is the time needed at a certain temperature to kill 90 percent ofthe organisms of interest, or equivalently, the time to reduce theorganism population by one log cycle. As used herein, “frequencyD-value” refers to decimal reduction time and is the time needed forexposure to sonic energy at a certain magnitude and frequency (orsweeping frequency range) to kill 90 percent of the organisms ofinterest, or equivalently, the time to reduce the specific organismpopulation by one log cycle.

As used herein, the word “organism” is defined as the whole range oforganic structures, both living and pseudo-living (e.g., viruses). Someexamples of the organic structures included in this definition of“organism” are Rhinovirus on the order of 30 nanometers, the bacteria E.coli on the order of 2 microns, amoeba on the order of 300 microns andvarious size cells of both humans and animals.

As used herein, target object includes any organism or microstructurehaving a size between 5 nanometers and 500 microns.

As used herein, cavitation nuclei and nucleus of cavitation refers to adiscontinuity in a liquid that will become a site of transient and/orstable cavitation when sonic parameters are correct, e.g., frequency.Examples of this discontinuity are an organism, an inorganic structureand a gas bubble.

As used herein, the terms ‘liquid” and “fluid” are used interchangeably,however, fluids are limited to the liquid form. As user herein, “soundenergy producer” includes a physical object which is directlyresponsible for generating sound energy, for example a transducer, apiezoelectric transducer, a magnetostrictive transducer, speaker, orother similar object.

First Embodiment Overview and Structure

Referring now to the drawings and more particularly to FIGS. 1-4,provided is apparatus 100 for creating a liquid that has thecharacteristic of improved cavitation efficiency when used in anultrasonic or megasonic cleaning or processing vessel. Apparatus 100 hasthe major components of vessel 111, bubble cutting system 102, and soundenergy source 103. In summary, apparatus 100 receives unconditionedliquid 104, applies a sonic energy from source 103 to cause bubbleprecipitation, and then cuts the precipitated bubbles with cuttingsystem 102, to create conditioned liquid 105.

FIG. 1 is a side section view taken along section line A-A in bottomview FIG. 2. As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, vessel 111 has a generallycylindrical shape with central longitudinal axis 106. Vessel 111 hasinlet port 12 arranged on its upper left cylindrical side wall as shownin FIG. 1. Inlet port 12 is in fluid communication with a source ofunconditioned liquid. Unconditioned liquid 104 passes into vessel 111through inlet port 12. On vessel 111′s bottom right cylindrical sidewall is outlet port 13. Conditioned liquid 105 passes out of outlet port13 and is then provided to another sonic processing apparatus, such as asonic cleaning apparatus. On the top circular surface of vessel 111 isgas outlet port 16. Excess gas which precipitates from the liquid withinvessel 111 passes out of vessel 111 through gas outlet port 16. Arrangedon bottom circular surface 31 of vessel 111 is sound energy source 103.Arranged within vessel 111 and centered about axis 106 is cutting system102.

Cutting system 102 includes rotary motor 17 a, motor shaft 17, and aplurality of cutting blades 25. As shown in FIG. 1, rotary motor 17 a ismounted near the top circular surface of vessel 111. Rotary motor shaft17 is arranged with its axis of rotation coincident with vessellongitudinal axis 106. Rotary motor 17 a is configured and arranged suchthat motor shaft 17 rotates relative to vessel 111. Motor shaft 17extends the entire height of vessel 111. FIG. 3 is a partial bottom viewtaken along section line B-B in FIG. 1. FIG. 4 is a partial perspectiveview of a portion of cutting system 102. As shown in FIGS. 1, 3, and 4,cutting blades 25 are generally flat sharp knife-shaped blades orientedradially along shaft 17 with their blade plane parallel to the top andbottom surfaces of vessel 111. However, blades 25 may have a surfaceplane which is slightly tilted like a propeller to induce a flow throughvessel 111. As shown in FIG. 4, blades 25 travel in a circular pathabout axis 106 through the vessel volume as shaft 17 rotates. Also shownin FIGS. 1 and 4, it can be seen that each blade is offset from theother blades in the direction along the longitudinal axis (i.e. up anddown in FIGS. 1 and 4). Motor 17 a is capable of rotating cutting blades25 continuously at a high rate in excess of 5000 rpm; however, motorsrotating at significantly lower or higher speeds may also be used. Motor17 a is capable of rotating in both clockwise and counterclockwisedirections.

As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, sound energy source 103 is arranged on thebottom surface 31 of vessel 111. Sound energy source includestransducers 14 which are powered by wires 15. Wires 15 are connected toa sonic generator (not shown in FIG. 1). Transducers 14 are coupled tovessel 111 through front masses 28. The sound energy source is capableof producing sonic energy with a dynamically adjustable frequency inmultiple frequency bands within the range of 9 kHz to 15 MHz. The sonicgenerator and transducers used are the multiSONIK system available fromBlackstone-NEY Ultrasonics; however other similar sound energy sourcesincluding single frequency ultrasound sources may be used.

Unconditioned liquid 104 will ideally have some level of gas dissolvedwithin it. In this embodiment, unconditioned liquid 104, is water,however other similar polar liquids such as ethyl alcohol, or nonpolarliquids, such as benzene, may be used. Inlet port 12 and outlet port 13can form a recirculation path.

First Embodiment Operation

The operation of apparatus 100 begins with connecting inlet port 12 to asource of unconditioned liquid 104 for filling vessel 111 until thelevel of liquid in vessel 111 is nearly full, as shown in FIG. 1 at 19.Next, sound energy source 103 is started when an electrical waveformgenerated by the sonic generator is provided to transducers 14 by wires15. The sonic energy produced by transducers 14 is coupled to the liquidin vessel 111 through front masses 28 and vessel bottom 31. The sonicenergy causes dissolved gasses in the liquid to precipitate in the gasphase, forming small bubbles 20. Some bubbles may begin to rise invessel 111 due to their buoyancy. Many bubbles will not rise quickly dueto their relatively small size in relation to the viscosity of theliquid and the random motion of liquid molecules. Cutting system 102 isstarted by turning on motor 17 a. This causes shaft 17 to rotate andcauses blades 25 to rapidly circulate through the liquid and cut largerbubbles 20 into smaller bubbles 21. The direction of rotation of motor17 a is reversed periodically in order to prevent the liquid in vessel111 from accelerating to rotate at a high speed. Some bubbles (forexample 22) may reach upper surface 19 of the liquid and eventually passout of vessel 111 through gas exit port 16. The combined sonic energyfrom sound energy source 103 and the cutting of precipitating bubbles bycutting system 102 causes the bubbles in the now conditioned liquid tohave a smaller size profile than if there were no cutting system 102.

More specifically, FIG. 5 compares the bubble size population in aliquid exposed only to sonic energy in graph 201, to the bubble sizepopulation in the conditioned liquid in apparatus 100 which has beenexposed to both sonic energy and cutting system 102 shown in graph 202.As shown in graph 202, the bubble population has been shifted leftwards,moved to a distribution of smaller bubbles in conditioned liquid. Next,referring to the bubble size range for 430 kHz, shown is that the bubblepopulation in conditioned liquid for 430 kHz in graph 202 is ten timeshigher than it is in degased ultrasonic liquid in graph 201. Anotherpoint shown in graphs 201 and 202 is that the number of bubbles thatresonate at 430 kHz is only about one percent of the total bubblepopulation. Also notice the total number of bubbles in the conditionedliquid graph is larger than the total number of bubbles in the degasedultrasonic liquid graph because when you cut larger bubbles into smallerbubbles, the number of bubbles increases.

The conditioned liquid 105 is next passed out of vessel 111 throughoutlet port 13 to be used by desired sonic processing equipment whichwill now operate with improved efficiency due to the improved bubblepopulation size profile in the conditioned liquid. After remaining inthe external sonic processing equipment for a period of time, the liquidmay then be returned to vessel 111 through inlet port 12 forreprocessing.

The conditioned liquid will result in increased cavitation efficiencyfor many sonic applications. For example, typical ultrasonic cleaningtanks will achieve increased cavitation efficiency when usingconditioned liquid generated from apparatus 100.

When a general ultrasound system applies ultrasound to the liquid in thetank, a volume of dissolved gas in the liquid is precipitated asbubbles. Some bubbles are large enough that buoyancy causes the bubblesto rise to the liquid surface and are expelled. However, mid-size tosmaller bubbles in the liquid will not have a sufficient buoyant forceto overcome viscous fluid friction and Brownian motion to cause thebubbles to rise to the surface in a practicable period of time. Thus, ina typical ultrasound system, a large distribution of bubbles will remainin the liquid.

Bubbles remaining in the fluid may be detrimental or beneficial to theultrasonic cleaning process based upon their size. More specifically,bubbles of a given size range may act as cavitation nuclei. Thesecavitation nuclei are beneficial in the ultrasonic cleaning processsince the implosion of cavitation nuclei creates shock waves and forceswhich aid in removing contaminants from surfaces of the object to becleaned. The bubbles in the desired size range will resonate andcontinually promote the cleaning process. However, bubbles which are notin the desired size range will hamper the cleaning process. Morespecifically, bubbles with a size larger than the desired range are notable to act as cavitation nuclei.

These bubbles which are larger than the desired range also willdisadvantageously absorb ultrasonic energy and convert it directly toheat. By cutting the bubbles that are too large to promote cavitationinto smaller bubbles, apparatus 100 is able to produce conditionedliquid. The cavitation efficiency is increased in ultrasound systemsthat use the conditioned liquid produced in apparatus 100.

In apparatus 100, improved cavitation efficiency conditioned liquid alsoresults with the use of multiple frequency sonic equipment such as themultiSONIK system available from Blackstone-NEY Ultrasonics used inapparatus 100. More concretely, the sonic generator waveform or the useof multiple sonic generators at different frequency ranges is utilizedto further increase the cavitation efficiency of produced conditionedliquid. The particular bubble size range that is advantageous forpromoting cavitation strongly depends upon the particular frequency ofthe sonic energy applied. This factor is utilized in apparatus 100 toselect appropriate sonic waveform steps to increase cavitationefficiency. More specifically, the sonic equipment in apparatus 100first applies a lower frequency sonic energy to the liquid to both degasthe liquid (promote bubble formation) and to cause cavitation to occur.The bubbles created at this low frequency are the desired size range forcavitation at higher frequencies. Apparatus 100 will then be switched toapply sonic energy at the higher frequencies to promote cavitation inthe bubbles created by the low frequency sonic energy. At this higherfrequency, there are less wrong size bubbles to absorb this higherfrequency ultrasonic energy and more right size bubbles to resonate andproduce cavitation. However, even with using this state of the artmultiple frequency ultrasonic equipment, the ratio of wrong size bubblesto right size bubbles is relatively large. Therefore, maximum cavitationefficiency is achieved with apparatus 100 by the combination of bubblecutting system 102 with the use of multiple frequency sonic waveforms.Therefore, apparatus 100 results in less sonic energy being convertedinto heat, and a higher cavitation density is achieved.

Other Embodiments

FIG. 6 shows an apparatus 300 similar to that in FIG. 1 but is builtdirectly into the corner of ultrasonic processing tank 333; instead ofbeing configured to supply an external sonic processing equipmentconditioned liquid. In this embodiment, the blades 334 are slightlytilted to cause the liquid 335 to flow into the top of apparatus 332 anddown past the blades 334 to be cut and expelled back into the tank nearthe bottom of apparatus 332. Motor 331 supplies the rotation to theblades for the combination cutting action and downward pumping action.The total apparatus 300 produces high cavitation efficiency because ofthe shift in bubble population size as detailed in FIG. 4. Inalternative versions of apparatus 332, motor 331 may be rotated in theopposite direction to cause a reverse flow where the liquid is pumped bythe tilted blades from near the bottom of tank 333 and expelled asconditioned liquid near the top of tank 333.

FIG. 7 shows next embodiment system 400 which is generally similar toapparatus 300. System 400 has the major components of sonic tank 441holding liquid 449, transducers 443, cutting blades 447 and 448, pump446, filter 445, and sonic generator 442. As shown in FIG. 7,transducers 443 are arranged along the bottom of tank 441 and aresonically coupled to liquid 449. Transducers 443 are connected to sonicgenerator 442 by cable and wires 444. Sonic generator 442 produces adrive frequency typically in the range 20 kHz to 3 MHz usually withstate of the art sweeping technology. Blade 447 is arranged on thebottom surface of tank 441 near outlet port 451. Outlet port 451 is influid communication with a pipe which leads to pump 446. The flow paththrough pump 446 continues through filter 445. The flow from filter 445continues to inlet port 452 in the right side wall of tank 441. Adjacentto inlet port 452 on the inside of tank 441 is blade 448.

The drive frequencies used by sonic generator 442 results in cavitationin liquid 449. A recirculation loop is formed starting and ending attank 441 and following the flow path of first passing by blades 447,outlet port 451, pump 446, filter 445, and inlet port 452 whichcompletes the loop to tank 441. Blades 447 and 448 spin as liquid passesthem due to the pump flow. The bubbles in the liquid released by thesonic field in the tank 41 are cut by blades 447 and 448 into smallerbubbles. This population of smaller bubbles results in improvedefficiency and higher cavitation density in the liquid 449. It is clearto one skilled in the art that system 400 may function with only one setof blades, either 447 or 448, but that increased performance is achievedwith both sets of blades in place.

FIG. 8 shows next embodiment system 500 where liquid flows intoconditioned liquid apparatus 510. After conditioning as described forFIG. 1, the liquid is pumped by way of line 551, pump 552 and line 553into sonic tank 554. Transducers 555 couple sonic energy into liquid 556where improved sound efficiency and higher cavitation density occurbecause of the improved bubble population of the conditioned liquid thatwas supplied to tank 554.

FIG. 9 shows a high cavitation density flow through sonic vessel 600that is well known in the art. Liquid flows into port 661 and is exposedto a strong sonic field in chamber 662 by the many transducers 663 thatcouple sonic energy into chamber 662 from every angle along the totallength of the regular polygon shaped vessel. The three dots before andafter each transducer 663 depict many transducers along the total lengthof the polygon face. Output port 664 is where the liquid exits afterbeing exposed to the high energy sonic field in system 600.

FIG. 10 shows system 700 consisting of system 100 for producingconditioned liquid and system 600 for delivering a high energy sonicfield to the conditioned liquid. Liquid flows into system 100 at 771 andthe conditioned liquid with a shifted bubble population similar to thatshown in the conditioned liquid graph of FIG. 4 flows out at 772. Thisconditioned liquid flows into system 600 at 773 and is exposed to veryhigh cavitation density in vessel 662 because of the increasedefficiency of sonic energy in conditioned liquid. The liquid that flowsout at 774 has experienced high cavitation density which has many usefuleffects such as a high rate of organism inactivation.

Another technique to increase the bubble population of smaller rightsize bubbles is to add microorganisms, for example yeast, that producebubbles as they feed, grow and reproduce. These bubbles will increasecavitation density and is useful for applications where themicroorganisms are not a contaminant to the process.

FIG. 11 shows an apparatus designed for targeting organisms or otherdiscontinuities in the liquid with a specific frequency or frequencyrange related to the target size. As explained later in FIGS. 12, 15,16, and 17, there is a relationship between frequency and target sizeand the proper frequency for a specific target can be determined bymethods taught later in this specification. Those methods involvefinding the frequency that causes the target to become a nucleus ofcavitation where a transient cavitation event occurs or where stablecavitation occurs. The apparatus 800 in FIG. 11 is designed to supplythe frequency or frequency range related to the target. Apparatus 800 isparticularly useful for targets below about 15 microns in size becausemegasonic frequencies generally are required.

Plate 881 and case 883 form the tubular vessel into which sonic energyis transmitted by transducers 882 driven through cable 886 by agenerator (not shown). The plate 881 is designed to match thepiezoelectric transducer 882 at the design frequency determined to causethe target to act as a cavitation nucleus. This design techniquerequires the thickness of the plate have an integer number of halfwavelengths of sound at the design frequency and the piezoelectricceramic has an odd integer of half wavelengths of sound at the designfrequency. The side view in FIG. 11 shows the vessel 883 with baffles887 to make the path of the liquid longer through the apparatus. Thebaffles are not required for a working apparatus, but they improve itsperformance. Also in the side view is shown the liquid input port 884and output port 885 and escape tubing 888 for gas or air released fromthe liquid.

FIG. 12 shows a graph with a relationship of target size versus sonicfrequency for causing targets to act as cavitation nuclei. Therelationship shown in FIG. 12 is only a general guideline because thespecific relationship between the target and frequency will varydepending on the target and liquid characteristics.

FIG. 13 shows system 1000, an apparatus for targeting and destroyingcancer cells in blood while leaving healthy cells virtually unharmed.Catheter 1010 is inserted into a vein to draw blood from the body. Theblood flows into catheter 1010 through tube 1020 to centrifugal bloodpump 1030 because of the suction of pump 1030. The output of pump 1030forces the blood through tube 1040 into apparatus 800 from FIG. 11. Thisapparatus is designed with the frequency or frequency range determinedto be that which causes the cancer cells to become cavitation nuclei.The design procedure is explained in the FIG. 11 paragraph above and thefrequency determination is guided by FIG. 12 with specific empiricaldetermination of frequency as taught in the follow on paragraphs aboutFIGS. 12 and 13 above. The blood with destroyed cancer cells leavesapparatus 800 in tube 1050 and is returned to the body by catheter 1060.

FIG. 14 shows a system 110 for destroying cancer cells in an organ bycausing the cancer cells to become cavitation nuclei. Cancer cells aregenerally a different size than healthy cells, therefore, using theteachings in this specification the frequency or frequency range thatresonates the cancer cells and causes the cancer cells to becomecavitation nuclei is found, call this range of frequencies Fr. Thepiezoelectric ceramic transducer 82 and plate 81 are designed to work atFr by techniques well known to megasonic engineers and as brieflydescribed in the paragraph on FIG. 11. The generator 113 is designed andtuned to produce an electrical drive signal at Fr which is transmittedthrough cable 86 and drives piezoelectric ceramic 82 at Fr. This couplessonic energy at Fr into liquid 112 which surrounds the organ 118. Thecoupling liquid is held in place by bag 111. During the operation ofsystem 110, the proper frequency Fr is coupled into liquid 112 whichtransmit the Fr sound waves to organ 118. The cancer cells in organ 118resonate with the application of sound waves at Fr and become cavitationnuclei. The cancer cells either transient cavitate and are destroyed bytheir implosion or they may undergo stable cavitation, the distortion ofwhich inactivates the cancer cells. Because the healthy cells aregenerally a different size than the cancer cells, Fr does not resonatethe healthy cells and they are left virtually unharmed.

FIG. 15 is an example of a graph that results when empiricallydetermining the proper frequency to cause a particular organism tobecome a cavitation nucleus. The procedure is as follows: a sampleliquid containing the organism of interest is subjected to a chosenfrequency or range of frequencies around the chosen frequency (state ofthe art ultrasonic and megasonic equipment sweep frequency, for example,if the chosen frequency is 1.4 MHz, the actual frequency will constantlybe changed within the frequency range 1.39 MHz to 1.41 MHz). Bytechniques well known to microbiologists, a frequency D-value isdetermined at the chosen frequency, i.e., the time of exposure to thechosen frequency needed to reduce the initial organism count by 90percent. This time is plotted on the y-axis as a function of frequencyon the x-axis as shown in FIG. 15. A second chosen frequency is suppliedto the sample liquid containing the organisms of interest. The frequencyD-value is determined for this second chosen frequency. This D-value isplotted on the graph. The process is continued until a minimum point isidentified on the plot. As an example, in FIG. 15 the minimum point wasfound to be at 0.9 MHz. To cavitate these organisms of interest, thesystem supplying the sonic energy would typically be designed to supplya sweeping frequency within the frequency range 0.89 MHz to 0.91 MHz.

FIG. 16 is an example of a graph that results when empiricallydetermining the proper frequency to cause a particular organism tobecome a cavitation nucleus. This method is quicker to accomplish thatthe method for FIG. 15 because only one measurement is necessary foreach data point. A data point on the graph is determined in thefollowing way. Take a sample of the liquid containing the targetorganisms and do a set of cultures to determine the initial organismcount. Expose the liquid containing the target organisms for a fixedtime (in this example the fixed time is one minute) to a selectedfrequency or sweeping frequency range (if a sweeping frequency range isused, the center frequency of the range is plotted on the FIG. 16graph). Culture the exposed sample to determine the number of log cyclesreduction in organism count. This is done by dividing the initial countby the exposed count and taking the log to the base 10 of that number.In the FIG. 16 example, it is shown that the maximum log cycle reductionoccurred at 1.5 MHz, this reduction was 2.2 log cycles.

FIG. 17 shows a graph of a technique used to determine the proper drivefrequency for imploding structures that are not living. When thesemicrostructures are exposed to the proper frequency that causes them tobe cavitation nuclei, they are imploded into nanostructures increasingthe particle count. A particle counter is used to determine the particlecount for each frequency data point. The data is plotted as shown inFIG. 17 and the peak value gives the proper frequency, in this exampleit is 104 kHz.

FIG. 18 is a flow chart of embodiment method 1500 of conditioning aliquid for sonic applications. Method 1500 has the steps of providing aliquid with a gas content 1503, providing a sound energy source 1506,providing a cutting system 1509, coupling the sound energy source to theliquid to cause bubbles to form 1512, and cutting a portion of thebubbles with the cutting system to cause the bubbles to have a differentbubble population size profile 1515.

FIG. 19 is a flow chart of embodiment method 1600 of causing a targetobject to act as a cavitation nucleus. Method 1600 has the steps ofproviding a sound energy source 1603, providing a fluid containing thetarget object 1606, coupling the sound energy source to the fluid 1609,in which the sound energy source is within a specific frequency rangethat resonates the target, to cause the target object to act as acavitation nucleus 1615.

FIG. 20 shows graph 1700 which is an example of a monotonicallyincreasing sound energy waveform 1701 for producing high energy densitycavitation at a known time, t1, 1703. The amplitude envelope starting att0, 1702, of the sound energy produced may be varied in a method toencourage high energy density events to occur. More specifically, theamplitude of the sound energy produced may be characterized bymonotonically increasing amplitude prior to the onset of cavitation1703. In particular, using a sonic generator which provides anexponentially increasing amplitude is deemed to increase the chancesthat high energy density events will occur.

Additionally, the chance of producing high energy events may be furtherimproved by providing a tank or chamber 1801 with liquid 1805 as shownin FIG. 21 where the sonic energy 1807 is focused at 1804. Such a tankor chamber 1801 with transducers 1802 and 1803 driven by a sonicgenerator (not shown) connected to leads 1808 and 1809 may also providea synchronization signal to an additional energy source, for example, anelectric current, a neutron source, or a laser or lasers (not shown)which direct a burst of energy at a cavitation implosion 1804 toincrease the energy density within the cavitation event 1804.

Further, the apparatus 1800 may also provide tracking of a threedimensional location and time of a cavitation event in order to allowprecise application of additional energy for increasing the energydensity of the cavitation event 1804.

These improvements can be tuned to produce a single high energycavitation event in a known location and at a known time oralternatively, the system can be slightly detuned to produce a cloud ofmultiple high energy cavitation events.

FIG. 22 shows system 2000 for producing improved wine 2002 in afermentation tank 2001. Ultrasonic transducers 2003 and megasonictransducers 2004 are mounted to the outside of the fermentation tank.The megasonic transducers 2004 are coupled to the tank through a plate2005 that is an integer number of half wavelengths thick. Although FIG.22 shows the ultrasonic transducers on the sides of the tank and themegasonic transducers on the bottom of the tank, the positions can bereversed or the transducers can be intermixed on one or both locations.

FIG. 23 shows a system 2100 for producing improved wine 2102 consistingof fermentation tank 2101 and recirculation loop 2107. The pump 2106moves the wine through the flow through ultrasound transducer 2103 andback into the fermentation tank 2101. The wine is processed whileflowing through the ultrasound transducer which may consist of a singlesweeping frequency or multiple frequencies, for example, a sweepingmegasonic frequency to inactivate undesirable yeast and an ultrasonicfrequency to degas and perform sonochemistry.

FIG. 24 shows system 2200 for producing improved wine 2202 in afermentation tank 2201. Immersible ultrasonic transducers and megasonictransducers 2203, 2204, 2205 are mounted inside the fermentation tank.As shown, the immersible transducers can be on the sides of the tank2203, on the bottom of the tank 2204 or in the interior of the tank2205. A proper combination of positions and frequencies are chosendepending on the particular application.

FIG. 25 shows a system 2300 for producing improved wine 2302 consistingof fermentation tank 2301, transfer line 2308, and second tank 2305 forholding the processed and transferred wine 2304. The transfer lineconsists of pump 2306 and flow through ultrasound transducer 2307. Thepump 2306 moves the wine through the flow through ultrasound transducer2307 and into the second tank 2305. The wine is processed while flowingthrough the ultrasound transducer 2307 which may apply a single sweepingfrequency or multiple frequencies, for example, a sweeping megasonicfrequency to inactivate undesirable yeast and an ultrasonic frequency todegas and perform sonochemistry.

FIG. 26 shows system 2400 with a cross-section of a fermentation tank2401 containing wine 2402 with the apparatus 2403 of FIG. 1 installed.The FIG. 1 apparatus 2403 shifts the natural bubble population of thewine to a smaller bubble population for improved cavitation density.This FIG. 26 system 2400 can be used in any of the previously describedfermentation tanks 2001, 2101, 2201, and 2301,

FIG. 27 is a flow chart of embodiment method 2500 of a fermentationprocess that improves the flavor of wine while preventing headachecausing chemicals. Method 2500 is applied to a liquid with grape juice.Method 2500 includes a step of applying a burst of sweeping megasonicsto the liquid. This step may be performed at the beginning of thefermentation process to implode undesirable yeast in the liquid. Method2500 also includes a first step of applying sweeping ultrasonics to theliquid. This step may be performed at the beginning of the fermentationprocess, or at a later time during the fermentation process, to degassulfur dioxide to an acceptable level. At least once, and optionallyperiodically, during the fermentation process, method 2500 applies asecond burst of sweeping megasonics to the liquid to implode anyundesirable yeast that began to multiply during the fermentationprocess. This step may also result in degasing of carbon dioxide, oxygenand sulfur dioxide, and/or produce the sonochemical effect of aging.Method 2500 may include a second step of applying sweeping ultrasonicsto degas carbon dioxide, oxygen and sulfur dioxide, and/or produce thesonochemical effect of aging. This step may be performed when thefermentation process is terminated. Without departing from the scopehereof, the first step of applying sweeping ultrasonics may be omittedfrom method 2500.

The disclosed embodiments may be embodied in other specific formswithout departing from its spirit or essential characteristics. Thepresent embodiments are therefore to be considered as illustrative andnot restrictive, the scope of the disclosed embodiments being indicatedby the appended claims rather than by the foregoing description, and allchanges which come within the meaning and range of the equivalency ofthe claims are therefore intended to be embraced therein. Accordingly,while the presently-preferred forms of the system have been shown anddescribed, and several embodiments discussed, persons skilled in thisart will readily appreciate that various additional changes andmodifications may be made without departing from the spirit of theinvention, as defined and differentiated by the following claims.

1. A method to improve quality of wine to produce wine with improvedflavor and less headache producing chemicals, comprising: (a) atbeginning of a fermentation process to turn grape juice into wine,applying a burst of sweeping megasonics to a liquid with the grape juiceto implode undesirable yeast, (b) coupling sweeping ultrasonics at adifferent frequency from said sweeping megasonics to the liquid to degassulfur dioxide to an acceptable level, (c) periodically during thefermentation process, applying a burst of sweeping megasonics to theliquid to implode any undesirable yeast that began to multiply, and (d)at termination of the fermentation process, coupling at least one ofsaid sweeping megasonics and said sweeping ultrasonics to the liquid toachieve at least one of inactivating remaining yeast that are viable,degasing carbon dioxide, oxygen and sulfur dioxide, and producingsonochemical effect of aging.
 2. A method as set forth in claim 1,wherein said sweeping megasonics has a center frequency between 350 kHzand 15 MHz and a bandwidth between 0.1 percent and 7 percent of thecenter frequency.
 3. A method as set forth in claim 1, wherein saidsweeping ultrasonics has a center frequency between 18 kHz and 349 kHzand a bandwidth between 3 percent and 20 percent of the centerfrequency.
 4. A method as set forth in claim 1, the step of coupling atleast one of said sweeping megasonics and said sweeping ultrasonics tothe liquid comprising coupling, sequentially or serially, said sweepingmegasonics and said sweeping ultrasonics to the liquid.
 5. A method toimprove quality of wine, comprising during a fermentation process toproduce wine performing the steps of: (a) shifting the natural bubblesize population of a partially fermented wine to a smaller bubblepopulation size, (b) coupling sweeping ultrasonics to the partiallyfermented wine having said smaller bubble population size, and (c)applying said sweeping ultrasonics to the partially fermented winehaving said smaller bubble population size to increase density ofcavitation implosions within said partially fermented wine to inactivateviable yeast by disrupting cell walls of the viable yeast with shockwaves from said implosions, whereby the fermentation process is stoppedresulting in a sweeter wine that has improved flavor due to sonochemicaleffect of the applied sweeping ultrasonics.
 6. A method as set forth inclaim 5, wherein said application of sweeping ultrasonics is for a timeperiod having duration between 4 minutes and 20 minutes.
 7. A method asset forth in claim 5, wherein said sweeping ultrasonics has a centerfrequency between 18 kHz and 349 kHz and a bandwidth between 3 percentand 20 percent of the center frequency.
 8. A method to improve qualityof wine to produce a wine with improved flavor and less headacheproducing chemicals, comprising: (a) at beginning of a fermentationprocess of turning grape juice into wine, a burst of sweeping megasonicsis applied to a liquid with the grape juice to implode undesirableyeast, (b) periodically during the fermentation process, a burst ofsweeping megasonics is applied to the liquid to implode any undesirableyeast that began to multiply, and (c) at termination of the fermentationprocess said sweeping megasonics is coupled to the liquid to inactivateremaining yeast that are viable, to degas carbon dioxide, oxygen andsulfur dioxide, and to produce the sonochemical effect of aging.
 9. Amethod as set forth in claim 8, wherein said sweeping megasonics has acenter frequency between 350 kHz and 15 MHz and a bandwidth between 0.1percent and 7 percent of the center frequency.